Pneumatic sole for shoes



Nov. 6, 1934.

F. GUILD PNEUMATIC SOLE FOR SHOES 'Filed April 7, 1934 INVENTOR FRANK GILD ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 6, 1934 PATENT FFICE PNEUMATIC SOLE FOR SHOES'k Frank Guild; MountKisco, N. Y.

Application April 7, 1934Seria1`No..719,462

10 Claims.

This. invention relates to new and useful. improvements in a pneumatic' soleffor shoes.

The. invention hasrforI an object thecontructionof apneumatic sola which is characterized bya full sole and ahalf sole disposed upon the front of; thefull sole. and having. a central cutout;area, and a rubber tube rolledin spiralshape Withinl the centrali cutout area.

Still further the.V invention proposes. an ar\ 'ifi' rangementwhereina passage connectsthe central cutout area,to.,the inner: end of the half sole, and wherein therubber tube has one end extendedvv through said passage and provided with a valve arranged over an opening in the fullsole- Stilliurther the invention also proposes the provsionptmeans for closing the openingiin the fullsoleoperative to expose'ftheopening so that thei valve may -be reached.

. Another` oner of the objects-.of this invention is,- the `arrangement ofinovel:means for holding thefrubberz coil'within saidA central cutout area.`

Stillfurther the-invention proposes-'the provision of an adhesivetaperengaged across the top of thecentral` cutout area and engaging the spiralcoil rubber tube for; holding the rubber.

tube in-A position while, permitting the transfer of resilient action from abovethe sole to :the rubber tube;

yStill further the invention also proposes an arrangement. whereby.- the rubber tubemaybe shifted within theacentralicutout areafafter the soleis upon agshoegso as .to Vbetter suit the comfort. ofl Ones foot.

Still furtherthe invention proposes the provisionf an v.endless ribbon connectedat one area witlra` portion of; the coil and adapted to` beV shifted from-` the outside.. for shifting the coil.

Still further the;` invention `proposes theA conf4 structionofr anH article asA mentioned whichis simplefanddurable andwhich may be-manufacturedandsoldat a reasonable cost.

Forfgfurther comprehension of thefinvention,y 11d-of Lthe objects and advantages thereof reference will;n be had to the following description andxaccompanying drawing; and tothe appended claimsgin kwhich the various novel features of ,the invention are., more particularly set forth.

In the'acconipanyingdrawing forming-a ma-V terialfpart:l offthis disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a planview` of apneumaticA sole for shoes according :to -this invention.

`'Fig.'is.a.. sectionalfview taken on the.: line 2&2A offiFig; 1.

Y Fig; 3; isla.-.fragrnentary.w enlarged vdetailed .ViewN (CL Sli-29) of a portion of Fig: 2 showing in particular Vthe construction of the means for closing-the openinginthe full sole.'

Fig.V 4 is a plan View similar to Fig. 1l but illus'-i trating another embodiment of the invention.

Fig,- 5 is a sectional ViewA takeny on the line 5;-5 of Fig. 4.

n Fig; 6- is another'plan view similar to Fig; 1' but illustrating a further modicatio-n ofthe in.- vention.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view-` taken on the line '7J-'I of Fig. 6.'

The pneumatic' sole for shoes accordingto this invention comprises a fullA sole` 10 includ'- inga heel portion 11; A half sole 12 is disposed upon the front of the full sole and has ay central cutout area 13 with a passage 14 connectingthis area with the inner end 15l of the half sole. This inner end 15 ofthe half sole is formed with a bevel as clearly illustrated in Figs. land 2 so ythat-there is no abrupt change. of surface in the sole;

A rubber-tube 16 is wound and formed into spiral shape and has a closed end' 16' and is disposed within the cutout area 13 and'has an outer end 16a equipped withA a` valvev 17. The valve 17 is locatedover an'opening 13v in the full sole.v This opening is shown to comprise a tubular member 19 engaged through the sole andhaving'a detachable plug 20 screwed into its bottom end. 'Ihe valve 17 isof conventional constructiony and therefore its detail will not be disclosed. The valve is ofthe-type generally;7 used upon bicycle tubes :and thev inner tubes of automobile tires. More particularly the valve is of the type to'allow air to enter the tube but to automatically restrain this air from discharging unless a small stemwithin the valve itself is -moved toY open the Valve. A short line of stitches 12 connects the front ends of the,V full and half soles.

It is intended that the sole beattached upon a shoe upper andconstitutethe sole ofthe shoe. The feature of theinvention is that the. ball ofthe foot will engage against the;rubber, tube and so` relieve strains clue tov walkingg, running, etc.

In Figs. 4 and, 5` another embodimentof the: invention` `has been disclosed in, which an 1 arfrangement is provided for holding the spiral coil tube 16-in aifixed position within the. central opening 13.- This'means-comprisesfseveral strips vof adhesive tape 22 pasted across the Ytop ofgth'e-half sole 12.. The-.endsof the tape. are..

attached upon the area of the half sole outside of the central cutout area 13. The tapes are shown crossing each other. With this arrangement the resiliency of the spiral rubber tube is transmitted to the ball of the foot since the tapes are iexible, but at the same time the tapes function to hold the coil in a sationary position. In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and corresponding part may be recognized by the same reference numerals.

In Figs. 6 and 7 another modication of the invention has been disclosed in Which provision is made for adjusting the position of the spiral rubber tube from the outside of the sole when desired. This means comprises an endless band 23 of exible material such as 'cloth extended transversely across the tcp of the half sole and extended down the sides and in a groove 24 between the full and half soles. A peg 25 projects from the upper portion of the band 23 and is attached to the inner end 16 of the rubber tube. rIhe arrangement is such that the position of the band 23 may be shifted around the half sole for the purpose of shifting the position of the peg 25 and similarly shifting the rubber tube. When this sole is attached upon a shoey it should be attached to the bottom side of an extra outer sole layer so that the shoe can be Water tight even though the band 23 may be shifted. To shift the band 23 it must be gripped on opposite sides of the sole. This is possible, for example, by engaging needles or similar implements through the exposed portion. After shifting has been accomplished the needles should be Withdrawn.

It is to be understood that the pneumatic soles may be of any size to t mens, Womens or childrens shoes.

While I have lshown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as defined in'the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure 'by United States Lettersl Patent is:

1. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposedl upon the front of said full sole and having a central cutout area, with a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole, anda rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped With an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole.

2. .A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including aheel portion, a half sole 'disposed upon the front of said full sole and having a central cutout area with a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole, and a rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout'area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, the inner edge of said half sole being formed with a tapered edge.

3. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the front of said full sole and having a central cutout area, with a passage Levende connecting with the inner end of the half soie, and a rubber tube With a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, said soles being secured together with stitches.

4. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the front of said full sole and having a central cutout area With a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole, and a rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, and means for closing the opening in said sole.

5. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the front of .said full sole and having a central cutout area with a passage connecting With the inner end of the halfV sole, and' a rubber tube With a closed end and-in spiral form within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, and means for closing the opening in said sole, comprising a tubular member engaged through the sole, and a plug detachably engaged in the end of the `tubular member.

, 6. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the front of said full sole and having a central cutout area, With a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole, a rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area Iand having its other end extending through said passage and equipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, and adhesive tape engaged across the upper face of said half sole for holding therubbertube in position.

'7. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the iront of said full sole and having a central cutout area with a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole, a rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped With an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, and adhesive tape engaged across the upper face of said half sole for holding the rubber tube in position, the ends of the adhesive tape being secured upon the area of the half sole to the sides of the central cutout area.

8. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon vthe front of said full sole and having a central cutout area with a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole,

a rubber tube With a closed end and in spiral I' form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and equipped with a valve and disposed over an' opening in said full sole, and means for shifting the position of the spiral coil rubber tube from the outside of the sole.

9. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the front of said full sole and having a central cutout area with a passage nesting with the inner end of the half sole, a rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage and squipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, and means for shifting the position of the spiral coil rubber tube from the outside of the sole, comprising an endless band engaged transversely across the half sole and adapted to be shifted and maintaining its position frictionally and having a portion attached to a portion of said rubber tube.

10. A pneumatic sole for shoes, comprising a full sole including a heel portion, a half sole disposed upon the front of said full sole and having a central cut out area with a passage connecting with the inner end of the half sole,

a rubber tube with a closed end and in spiral form Within said central cutout area and having its other end extending through said passage land equipped with an air valve and disposed over an opening in said full sole, and means for shifting the position of the spiral coil rubber tube from the outside of the sole, comprising an endless band engaged transversely across the half sole and adapted to be shifted and maintaining its position frictionally and having a portion attached to a portion of said rubber tube, a peg projecting from the upper portion of said band and being attached to the inner end of said rubber tube and comprising the attachment between these elements previously mentioned.

FRANK GUILD. 

